AmeriHealth to offer anti-opioid drug at no cost to members

The number of deaths from drug overdoses increased 42 percent from 2015 to 2016. - (DEPOSIT PHOTOS)

AmeriHealth New Jersey has changed its benefits policy to include a no-cost share offer to its members for Narcan and Naloxone – drugs used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses quickly.

The health insurer will offer the benefit to its members on March 1. AmeriHealth NJ will cover the injectable and nasal spray for both drugs but will not cover Evzio, a naxolone auto-injection system.

Narcan has come into the public light as the opioid epidemic continues in the state. In New Jersey 2,056 people died from a drug overdose in 2016, an increase of 42 percent from 2015.

“By making Narcan® more readily available to our members, we hope to help make a positive impact on these devastating statistics in our state,” said Dr. Urbano, senior Medicaid director for AmeriHealth NJ.